How first term governors fared, one year after (II)
In this second and concluding part of our series on the performance of first term governors after one year in office, we will be beaming searchlight on Adamawa, Borno, Ogun, Yobe and Zamfara states. It should be noted that governors in the South East and South South Region were not featured in the series because most of them are in their second terms while in the case of Bayelsa, the new governor, Douye Diri is yet to clock one year in office.
his administration which centers on education, agriculture, healthcare delivery, economy and empowerment.
Buni matched his words with commitment by declaring a state of emergency on basic and secondary education.
Under his watch, education got the lion share in the state’s 2020 budget, where over N22 billion was allocated for the sector.
Government through education ministry and other supporting agencies embarked on construction of six model primary schools; reconstructions, renovations and expansion of classrooms as well as granting of full scholarship package to 69 Law students.
In Agriculture, the government procured 103 Mersey Fergusson tractors and distributed five to each of the 17 LGA in addition to 9,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer which were given to farmers at subsidized cost of N3,000 as against the N10,000 open market price.
Dormant industries such as the Yobe Woven Sacks Factory, Yobe Flour and Feed Mills and the Yobe Aluminium Company have been revived and are currently operational at full capacity.
Similarly, over 600 shops capacity Damaturu Ultra Modern Market is currently under construction and has reached advanced stage of completion while works has also commenced at Trailer Transit Park in Potiskum.
Other projects are construction of 53 health centers, roads, water and electricity supply.
Poor representation of women in Buni’s cabinet is one of his low points. Of the 20 commissioners appointed, only two were women while one out of the 21 advisers is a woman. Zamfara Governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle assumed office as governor of Zamfara State amidst raging security challenges across the state which he confronted headlong.
He started with hectic days of meetings with key stakeholders, traditional rulers, different security outfits from Abuja, the Inspector General of Police, President Muhammad Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, amongst others in effort to tackle the situation.
Within a short time, Governor Matawalle was able to restore peace to the state and reduced deadly activities of kidnappers and bandits to the barest minimum.
In the education sector, the government awarded contracts for the construction of 613 primary school classrooms across the state; renovation of 342 others and equipping them with desks and ICT centers
On infrastructure, Matawalle has carried out a number of road constructions in the state, amongst them are the Canteen Daji Area road; Kwanar Yoruba Mosque Sabon Gari Road.
The health sector has also received attention with construction of 147 PHCs, procurement of thousands of PPEs and ambulances for the health sector, amongst others.
To mark his 365 days in office, he granted autonomy to all 21 local governments of the state on Friday. He noted that there was no better way for the third tier of government to dispense developmental projects than being independent of other tiers.